Inverleigh sends statement with three-goal win over minor premiers

EAST Geelong have gone down to Inverleigh 10.8.68 to 12.14.86 in a shock defeat to an in-form Hawks side that is now Grand Final-bound.

Both sides were within a kick of one another for three quarters, but East Geelong’s inaccuracy cost them in the long run, kicking 14 behinds.

The kicking woes for the Eagles were evident in the first quarter with one goal and seven behinds.

In the fourth, Adam Donohue’s side sensed an opportunity to book a Grand Final spot in the final term, slotting five goals to East Geelong’s two and wrapping up proceedings at St Albans Reserve.

Donohue doubled down to kick a bag, while Paddy Bourke kicked three goals and Dalton Grundell managed a further two.

Blake Hutchison and Casey Meehan added to the Hawks goal tally.

East Geelong’s Jake Watson-Serle and Mitch Hoare were the team’s only multiple goalkickers with four and two goals respectively.

Brent McGrath and Ruben Vesikuru kicked a goal each for the Eagles.

Inverleigh now gets a week off ahead of September 10th’s Grand Final.

East Geelong faces either Bannockburn or Bell Post Hill in next week’s Preliminary Final dependant on tomorrow’s (Sunday, August 28) Semi-Final.